Finnair becomes 1st European airline to optimize product sales

National flag carrier Finnair announced on Monday that it has cooperated with Chinese companies TravelSky and Tongcheng-Elong to optimize aviation product contribution by using NDC (New Distribution Capability) technology, reported Xinhua.

The airline has agreed with TravelSky, a leading Chinese air transport information service provider, to cooperate in bringing its aeronautical product offering to TravelSky's customers in China, by using NDC contribution technology of IATA (International Air Transport Association), said Finnair in a press release published on Monday.

Finnair has become the first European airline to build NDC connection to TravelSky, according to the airline. The first direct connection was launched in June 2020 with Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Limited, a leading Chinese online travel service provider, as a partner selling Finnair's NDC content.

Via NDC connection with TravelSky, it is easy for Chinese travel agencies to access to Finnair's full portfolio of additional services from an extra baggage to a pre-order meal, which enable personalization of the flight experience for customers.

"NDC with TravelSky will enable us to provide all our ancillary offering to our Chinese customers, which benefits both travel agencies in terms of a wider product offering and our Chinese travellers, who can better personalize their journeys with Finnair," said Ole Orver, chief commercial officer (CCO) of Finnair, in the press release.

Tongcheng-Elong's Chief Operating Officer Wang Qiang also said in a press release that his company continues cooperation with the world's outstanding airlines to provide users better travel services and promote the innovation of global travel online service, by relying on its own technology and traffic advantages.

Finnair is a member of the IATA NDC Leaderboard airlines group, which is committed to promoting the introduction of NDC and changing the way the tourism value chain operates. The airline was recently named the highest level NDC-certified company by IATA, and now offers comprehensive booking and service options through its NDC application interface.

Finnair noted that Chinese market continues to play a key role in its strategy. In July, the airline reopened its passenger flight to Shanghai. It will also fly to Nanjing in September and October and hopes to open flights to other destinations in China as well.